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A Tale of Two Campaigns
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On October 7, a large British force probed a wooded area below Bemis
Heights. They were discovered, triggering the Battle of Bemis Heights.
The Americans drove the British back to their defensive works. Later, ral-
lied by Benedict Arnold, American soldiers overran a redoubt occupied
by Hessians. Night brought an end to the fighting.
Burgoyne had lost another 400men killed or wounded. He soon began a
northward retreat, leaving the sick and wounded behind. But it was futile. On
October 17, Gentleman Johnny surrendered his entire army near Saratoga.
Objective: Philadelphia
Three months before Burgoyne’s surrender, more than 200 British ships
had sailed out of Lower New York Bay. What was their target? That ques-
tion preoccupied George Washington and his aides.
Washington suspected the movement was a feint, designed to get him to
move the main part of the Continental Army out of northern New Jersey.
That would allow General Howe to commit a large number of troops to
support Burgoyne’s invasion, without worrying that the Americans would
take the opportunity to attack New York City.
BENEDICT ARNOLD
Benedict Arnold, a hero at Sara-
toga, would later become a traitor to the
American cause. In 1780, he attempted
to hand over to the British a strategic
fort at West Point, New York. Arnold
didn’t think he’d received enough credit
for his military accomplishments, and
he was angry at being passed over for
promotion. In 1780 he secretly plotted
with the British to turn over the fort he
commended at West Point. The plot was
uncovered, and Arnold barely escaped arrest, fleeing to England.
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